W210 abs bas esp warning lights

[andy99]

Hi folks - I know this topic is a perennial bug... please bear with me.

2002 E2320CDI estate (if it matters) started a few months ago bringing on the abs, bas and esp warning along with the bulb fail warning. Fixed by bending the fuse tabs to make better contact. Hurrah.

Then it comes back. Did all the basic checks - fuse good, bulbs good etc. Disconnect battery to try to clear fault overnight. Seems to work.

Then it comes back. Replaced brake light switch with cheapo from ebay. Fixed it... including the steering left/right steering angle sensor reset trick.

Then it comes back. Suspect low battery voltage so swap with the wife's car with newer battery and reading higher voltage. Seems to fix it.

All good for a while!

Then it comes back. Suspect ebay cheap switch so splash out on genuine Merc part. Doesn't fix it. None of my old fixes seem to work. Concerned it's a serious fault now involving the control unit or something more expensive. So far have spent 20 notes not getting very far which I can live with. But I don't have the sort of cash to throw at a car of this age either chasing ghosts. Any other things I can do for cheap or free? Please advise.

From reading other posts on the topic the order things appear may be important. Ignition (I know it's a diesel...) on no warning. Start engine, bulb fail comes on after a couple of seconds. When I press the brake to move out of park the festival of lights warnings and beeps begins.

Thank you in advance...

Andy

 

[om613]

Sounds like a duff battery to me.
Was the swapped one up to it?
i.e. c.105 Ah / 800 CCA?

 

[andy99]

Hi, thanks for your time.

The replacement battery was a newer (but not new) battery of the same spec (type 019) from my wife's ML. It was showing a better voltage than the old one so I chucked it in. To rule out the battery I connected my E-class to my wife's ML via jump leads and started the ML so the voltage at my battery <before> cranking was 14.something. Should that be sufficient? The fault <still> appeared after starting mine.

I'm looking for a borrow of a new battery before throwing £100+ at it.

Thanks,
A

 

[ajlsl600]

good luck .let us know, maybe worth a star check.

 

[brianbrian]

You said you checked the fuse, I would change it.

 

[bob 6600]

Faults will be clear from the dash but may be stored faults. Not sure if that should matter.

The BAS/ABS sounds like it is the speed sensore lead on the front wheels - I had this same fault

See if you can get it on a decent diagnostic, will save you money in the long run

 

[andy99]

Hi Bob, thanks for your input. I would love to get it fixed (a lovely drive!) but I need a 7 seater for a reason! And they are more expensive than a Mercedes is to run!

Could you please clarify why you think the front (over the rear)? Have you done the work yourself - is it a standard DIY job or specialist territory? Online bits go from cheap to silly... I can understand that this would trigger a fault on starting but why would it only be apparent when depressing the brake? Surely wheel speeds are monitored and compared at all times regardless of the brake position, because the traction control uses the ABS ring signals to check for slip? The bulb failure warning comes on before pressing the brake despite the bulbs and fuse being good...

Have tried changing the battery but the fault persists - but I'll reserve full judgment until I've done a run in it. And I've tried a new fuse

Saving for a diagnostic but payday seems an awfully long way off...

Thanks,
A

 

[bob 6600]

Cannot say whether it would be front or back, that is where the diagnostic came in and pointed out which one was faulty.

Front is easy, remove wheel and it is there in front of you,,,remove the retaining bolt, unclip and replace.

I bought a Pagid one and it was around £60! I won't say what MB wanted